The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season[4] and was led by coach Jimmy Feix.
[6] The Hilltoppers won their first two playoff games, including a win over New Hampshire in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Northern Michigan in the Camellia Bowl.
[8][9] This team was one of the best in school history and included future National Football League (NFL) players David Carter, Darryl Drake, Rick Caswell, and Biff Madon.
Rick Green was named to the AP All American team as well as the OVC Defensive Player of the Year and Feix was named Divisional Kodak College Coach-of-the-Year.
[10] The All OVC team included Green, Sheroid Barrett, Chip Carpenter, Walt Herod, John Leathers, and Keith Tandy.